The smell of fresh bread and chocolate chip cookies made her stomach growl and Roman ducked her head to hide the warmth that flooded her cheeks. 

"You know you don't have to stay and help, right?" Tessa comments, the humour in her voice palpable as she carries out another tray of macarons to place in the display case in one hand while she holds two pink bakery boxes in the other. "It's sort of my job to do all of this, you know?"  

"Yeah, I know," she says, jumping to take the boxes from her hands to add to the table with the rest of the order. "But I don't see how it's fair to make you do all this work when you're supposed to be at the wedding enjoying it all tomorrow." 

Somehow, despite Alice's misgivings about having a full dessert table at the wedding, she and Leah had convinced the girl otherwise. They had gotten her to hire the Sweet Lounge rather easily after they got her to agree. 

Her true mistake was letting Roman place the order because even she would admit that she had gone a little bit overboard and then tried to hide that fact by paying for it herself. She was found out anyway, of course, Alice and Edward knew everything, and then somehow Emmett learned what happened and he swore to never let her hear the end of it. 

At the time she had countered that all the leftovers and the extra could just go to the pack since they wouldn't go to waste. He still laughed. 

Though she supposed it was a miracle nonetheless to get Leah to interact with the Cullen's at all. She still firmly hated them all, despised them with her entire being, but she put up with them for Roman's sake and she couldn't be more thankful. 

So that was how she ended up hiding out here the days that led up to the wedding, helping out Tessa and her parents the best way that she knew how -- the same way that Bella was hiding out in her home to avoid the people in tone from staring at her. 

Which, to be fair, they really were staring at her because of that ridiculous car that Edward had gotten her after her truck died. The only reason Roman got out of it was because someone would always give her a lift when she needed it. She had straight out refused, claiming that she needed her usual bike rides for her cardio. 

She might be turning into a vampire that wouldn't need things like that anymore, but she still wanted to make sure that she was in shape to the time leading up. She also had far too much excess energy that would build up if she didn't get a bike ride in.

Tessa laughs as she fills the display. "It's literally part of the job, Ro, you don't need to worry about any of that." 

"Ah, but who will keep you company?" 

"I can spend some time in the bakery on my own, you know, it's not that big a deal," she says, shrugging as she places the tray back on the counter. "Besides, my parents will be home soon. Papa says that he's going to be starting on the bread tonight so that it's ready to be baked fresh tomorrow for the wedding. He'll be able to keep me company." 

"There has to be something that I can do to help, Tes." 

Tessa eyes her closely, planting her elbow on the counter. "You're just bored with Alice doing all the work." 

"No, that's not it," she's quick to defend herself. "I'm just... she told me to take this last week to relax and distress, and rest, right? But I'm just so antsy and nervous. What if something goes wrong?" 

Her friend sighs before turning to grab at the fresh French roast coffee and poured to mugs for both of them. She could see the steam twist and curl from where she sat, the heat visibly rising. Tessa fixed it how she liked, remembering her order from all the times that she had ordered in the past, and pushed it to the end of the counter. 

Roman thanks her quietly. 

"What could possibly go wrong?" she asks, sipping on her pipping hot drink. "You're marrying Edward Cullen and Bella Swan. You have Alice as a wedding planner and maid of honour?" 

"Don't forget Leah. You remember it's sort of like the whole Montague's and Capulet's between my honorary family and the Cullen's, right? And then poor Charlie is just stuck in the middle all confused and innocent." 

"But everything is clearly working out, Ro, because you're getting married anyway." 

"It's not only that, though. What if my parents heard about the wedding and they show up? Or what if Seth decides that he would rather not walk me down the aisle?" 

She twists Bella's ring on her finger, remembering the day that she had asked him... 

There had been tons of take-out and snacks spread around Sue's living room. They were alone, hidden away from the rest of the pack, and she had set the day aside just so that she could spend the entire day with him for this. 

They were watching the old superman movies, laughing at how stupid they all were with the glasses switch when she had just asked him when he was in the middle of drinking his milkshake. Seth had choked. Then he cried and agreed and then cried some more.

"Seth would never leave you behind like that! He loves you so much that he would find a way even if his legs were cut off." 

Roman sighs, dropping her head into her hand as she watches the steam rise off the coffee. "I guess I'm just worried about silly things. I blame Alice for not letting me help this week." 

"Would it help if I let you help out in the kitchen for a bit until Bella comes by to pick you up?" Tessa offers, lifting her mug to hide her smile. 

She jumps up from where she was slumped over, energy rejuvenated as she follows the other girl to the back, making sure to take her mug with her as she goes. 

It was much more clinical in the back of the shop, much more her parent's style than Tessa's pink and black polka dots. It was all shining steel and black accents. 

Or at least it was until she pulled out matching, frilly pink aprons. 

They set out making cupcakes because Tessa promised that she wasn't going to let her mess anything up in any way and since it was part of the order lists that needed to be dealt with still, they might as well start it out now so that the ovens would be freed up later. 

"I know how to make cupcakes," she mentions as she adds some colour to the batter. "You don't have to watch me like that." 

"I just want to be careful. Catering events for weddings are a big deal." 

"Well, I wouldn't let myself ruin my own wedding treats," she comments, watching the colour swirl until they were a soft pastel green. 

All pastel colours, of course, because it was hard enough to convince Alice to approve of coloured desserts. Roman's winning argument: why would anyone eat plain-looking desserts?

Tessa laughs. "Fine, but don't expect me to let you anywhere near the cake. I'd rather die than ruin that surprise." 

"Or face Alice's wrath."

"Or face her wrath. I don't understand why she likes surprises so much." 

"I don't think I'll ever understand. It's just one of her quirks, I think." 

"She's always been a little odd duck," Tessa comments, taking out the cupcake trays. "Noth that I'm any better." 

"I've always been just as odd, Tess. It was luck that things worked out the way they did with Edward and Bella." 

"Oh, no! No, that wasn't luck. That was destiny, Ro, it was fate. I don't think anyone can argue that much." 

Blushing, she moves aside so that she can fill the moulds, doing nothing to hide her goofy smile. Warmth spreads through her at the thought and it feels like she's going to burst with joy. Married! She was getting married tomorrow! 

"Oh, Tessa, I'm just so happy I can't even explain it!" 

She laughs, shaking her head fondly. "You're going to have a very happy life, Ro, I just know it." 

"You too, Tess. You have your own epic love waiting for you," she says, nudging her friend gently. "Hey, maybe you'll meet someone at the wedding!" 

She scoffs. "I doubt there's anyone in this town that I haven't met, so I don't know how I'm meeting anyone." 

"You never know. There could be plenty of people around here that you don't know." 

"Fine! Fine, there might be a chance of me meeting someone, don't expect much to happen, Ro, but fine, I'll keep an open mind," Tessa exclaims, laughing breathlessly. 

"You've just gotta hope for the good things and they shall hopefully come to you!" 

"Roman? Are you here?" 

Her heart jolts, stuttering in her chest at the sound of Bella's voice. She looks over to her friend, question hanging in the air. 

"Go get her, lover girl," Tessa teases, nodding toward the door. 

"Thanks, T! I'll see you tomorrow. Wear your ladybug earrings for luck, alright?" she says, side-hugging her friend before she takes off toward the front of the store. "I'm gonna take those boxes with me, alright?" 

"Oh, you don't have to do that!" 

"I want to! It'll make things easier for you in the morning if you don't have to bring so much." 

"Fine, but don't even think of showing our face around here until after your honeymoon!" 

Ducking around the counter, she takes Bella's hand into her own and pulls her close, leaning in so she could feel her breath on her cheeks. "I wouldn't dream of it, Tessa!" she calls back. 

They take the boxes to the car, putting them safely into the backseat as they listen to Tessa's intermittent playful complaints of how her friends were too nice to her. 

With everything packed away and the pair safely buckled in, Roman gripped the handle as Bella stomped on the gas, laughing as she watches her fiancee fumble to slow them down. 

"Still can't get the handle of the car?" She teases, relaxing into the seat more comfortably. 

"Shut up," Bella grumbles, tensing when they slow at a crosswalk. "You're still coming over for a bit?"

"Alice has banned me from spending the night, but yeah, of course, I am," she says, opening her window a crack. "What else am I supposed to be doing?" 

"Partying on the reservation?" Bella points out bitterly. "You aren't confined to the house tonight." 

"Neither are you, Bells. You're able to go out as much as you want but you just choose not to." 

"But people are always looking! They look at the car and they look at the rings," she whines. "I can't handle all that attention on me, Roman, it's too much." 

"People are always going to look," she says, squeezing her arm comfortingly. "After the change, they're always going to be watching us now." 

"It'll be for different reasons then." 

"Consider it practice."

"How are you okay with everyone staring?"

Roman shrugs. "It's a small town. I know most people around here and I know they aren't that great." 

Bella snorts, shaking her head as she pulls onto her street. A canary yellow Porsche was parked across the street, the colour standing out it the dim, clouded sunlight.

She slows, glancing into the tinted windows as Bella walks ahead, seemingly missing the car in her mission to get back inside so that she could go back to hiding. 

"Dad?" she called as she opened the door. "I'm home." 

"Hold on, Bells, stay right there." 

"Huh?" she says, pausing automatically. 

Roman snorts, moving around her to enter the house. "Is Alice holding you hostage? Bang once for yes." 

"Alice?"

"Gimme a second. Ouch, you got me, Alice." 

"Sorry, Charlie," Alice's trilling voice responded. "How's that?" 

"I'm bleeding on it." 

"You're fine. Didn't break the skin—trust me." 

"What's going on?" Bella demands, hesitating in the doorway. 

"Thirty seconds, please, girls," Alice told me. "Your patience will be rewarded." 

Bella huffs, tapping her foot counting out each passing second making it rather difficult for Roman to stifle her amusement. She could be so impatient and suspicious of things sometimes, it was adorable -- even if she should rightfully be weary around Alice because you never know with that girl. 

Before she could get to thirty, Alice calls them in.

"Oh," Bella says. "Aw. Dad. Don't you look—"

"Silly?" Charlie interrupted. 

"I was thinking more like debonair." 

"Yeah, Charlie, you look dashing!" 

Charlie blushed. Alice took his elbow and tugged him around into a slow spin toshowcase the pale gray tux. 

"Now cut that out, Alice. I look like an idiot." 

"No one dressed by me ever looks like an idiot." 

"She's right, Dad. You look fabulous! What's the occasion?" 

Alice rolled her eyes. "It's the final check on the fit. For all of you."

Happiness flutters through her again at the thought. She loved wearing her dress as much as she could, even if it was only for a few minutes at a time between fittings and putting it on to show those that wanted to see it (and the few times that Alice would let her put it on just because). 

Glancing around the room, she spots the wonderful white garment bag with the little green slip on the hanger that marked it as her dress and squeals happily. She snatches up the bag carefully under Alice's watchful eye and darts up the stairs quickly. 

"I'll go first!" she announces, slamming the door to Bella's room loudly. 

The dress, beautiful and lovely in every sense, was perfect for something that she never got the chance to pick out herself. It was really everything that she wanted and she swore she was going to wear it every ceremony that came. 

Slipping it on, her fingers feather over the material of the ruffled tier floor-length skirt that reminded her of the gentle waves at LaPush beach or the leaves falling around her mid-autumn when she was walking the deep forest trails.  

She spins, heart racing as it twists around her. It was incredibly different from the glimpses that she's seen of Bella's dress. She was the boho girl to her Anne of Green Gables. 

"Stop moving around so much before you rip something," Alice scold as she enters the room, holding Roman by the shoulder to keep her still. 

Her hands were cold against her bare skin, small compared to Edward's and she could only imagine how it would feel to have him hold her when she was wearing it. Oh, or how Bella would react to seeing her in it for the first time. 

"Can the back be laced a little tighter?" she asks, motioning vaguely to the low back corset. "My chest feels a little loose." 

"Don't worry," Alice tells her, "You just have a little trouble lacing yourself up, remember?" 

"I wasn't worried about anything," she argues, glancing down at her breasts. "It just felt a little loose." 

Humming, Alice came around the front and adjusts the sweetheart neckline before moving to the off-shoulder, tulle puff sleeves. It was one of her favourite things. Alice's design was just perfect. Absolutely perfect. 

"It is a little loose around your waist when I tighten it, but that's an easy thing to fix," Alice comments, adjusting the fabric and pinning it in place. "Are you sure you don't want a veil?" 

"There was no veil when you first designed it, right? So I don't need one now." 

"I didn't exactly design it..." 

"Stop trying to be modest. You design most of before you sent it to that fancy designer to finish up the details. You see the version that I will be happiest in, and you have always said it's without the veil. Don't doubt yourself now." 

Alice hugs her shoulder, pressing her cheek against Roman's bicep. "You're going to be a wonderful sister." 

"I'm going to love being your sister, Alice," she says, covering her hand with one of her own. "Tomorrow is going to be the most important day of my life. I get a new family, I get a wife and husband. My family and friends will be there, Seth is going to walk me down the aisle -- everyone gets to see your brilliance." 

"It's a very big day for you." 

"The biggest and I can't wait." 

Alice laughs and steps back, letting her do a small spin. "Tomorrow." 

Roman feels like she's burning with happiness, radiating like the sun. Everything that she ever wanted was coming together tomorrow, the pieces fitting perfectly, and she could never ask for anything better.

It would be the start of her, Bella and Edward for forever. 

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ahaha it's starting !! the plan is to write as much as I can by my birthday as a mini-challenge to myself so stayed tuned gang!! 

unedited 

2020-03-25